Looking to do some spring cleaning? Arvest Bank is pleased to announce it can help you get rid of any documents you have laying around with its Food Drive & Free Shred Day!

On Friday, April 6 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Arvest is partnering with File Thirteen at the branch at 4330 NW Cache Road in Lawton. The service will be provided at no charge, but Arvest asks that you please consider making a monetary or non-perishable food donation in support of its 1 Million Meals campaign.

The limit is 10 boxes per customer, and the customer must be present until the shredding is done. While you wait, please enjoy a hot dog from Arvest’s master grillers and the RV show provided by RV Connection.

Beach Fosters Change Through Empowerment

“North Tulsa is an area of a lot of hurt, a lot of pain,” he said, ticking off a list of woes – poverty, unemployment, crime and illiteracy, among others – that long have plagued its residents.

Fortunately for those who live in north Tulsa, Beach is as passionate as he is candid. The founder of Tulsa YouthWorks, Beach moved to the area more than 15 years ago, and for the last 10 has poured his time and energy into creating a sea change. He has done so by working with the future of north Tulsa, its children.

“We really felt like, ‘These kids are very talented. Is there something we can do?’” Beach said. “Not just help them with food, not just help them with recreation and field trips, but is there a way we can actually empower them to help change their own community?"

Beach and those at Tulsa YouthWorks work with about 200 kids a year, using an after-school program and various camps to spend more than 200 days a year with them. The organization’s Pizza Factory teaches the children how to make pizzas and serve others.

The service piece is critical, Beach said. In addition to making one pizza they take home for their families, each child makes another pizza to give to homeless or other needy north Tulsa residents.

“The reason why we have them go out… If all we do is serve the kids and help them out with their lives, they'll be appreciative, but they're still in a victim mindset because of all the stuff that they've gone through in their life,” Beach said. “When we empower them to go out and serve others, it changes their whole mindset.”

Beach is the 29th person to be featured in Arvest Bank’s People Helping People video series. The series is designed to celebrate individuals in the communities Arvest serves who are uniquely making a difference. The idea came from the bank’s mission statement: “People helping people find financial solutions for life.”

There are other components to Tulsa YouthWorks, including kids who go from making and delivering pizzas to making presentations to churches, businesses and civic groups in an effort to sell more pizzas. Part of each sale goes into a college savings fund in the name of the child who sold the pizza.

Again, the idea is empowerment.

“A lot of the kids, they start out when they're in kindergarten,” Beach said. “If you can imagine, all these years of making pizzas and selling pizzas, we hope to have a good, substantial amount for them when they’re ready for college.

“We're looking for companies out there who want to match the children, match all the scholarship funds so that when they go, it's not even what they've sold, but even double that. Again, the number one reason we find why these children don't go to college, flat-out their parents don't have the money to send them, and so that means the children don't get equipped to live out their dreams.”

Even for the kids who may not go to college, Beach believes Tulsa YouthWorks provides them with a foundation for success by helping them academically and teaching them life skills.

“The biggest ways that we define success at YouthWorks is, ‘Do the kids come and do they always feel loved here?’” Beach said. “Do they feel accepted? Do they feel like somebody actually believes in them? Do they feel like somebody is going to be there for them no matter what? That's why we're here 204 days out of the year.”

The award-winning videos are available via Arvest’s social media channels – YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and the Arvest Blog – and the bank will make related posts each time a new story appears. Additionally, Arvest social media followers can help spread the word about these inspiring community members by sharing, liking and retweeting the videos. Beach’s video launched on March 2.

About Arvest Bank

Arvest Bank, named by Forbes magazine as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” for 2017, operates more than 250 bank branches in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas through a group of 15 locally managed banks, each with its own board and management team. These banks serve customers in more than 120 communities, with extended weekday banking hours at many locations. Arvest also provides a wide range of banking services including loans, deposits, treasury management, credit cards, mortgage loans and mortgage servicing. Arvest is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC.

Arvest Bank – Oklahoma City is proud to have supported the 2018 American Heart Association’s Heart Ball – held Feb. 10 – at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

The event, in its 37th year, was co-chaired by Arvest Bank president Ron Witherspoon and his wife, Nicole. Numerous other Arvest associates volunteered at the event as well.

The entertaining evening included dinner, dancing and an auction, bringing together prominent members of the health, philanthropic and local business communities. Through the support of local sponsors, patrons and “sweetheart” families, more than $5.1 million has been raised within the last 10 years to fund research, education and community programs and services in the metropolitan area.

For more information about the American Heart Association, please visit www.heart.org.

Arvest Bank is pleased – and humbled – to be honored by Leadership Oklahoma with the organization’s Statewide Community Award* in April. The award is part of Leadership Oklahoma’s annual “Excellence in Leadership” program.

The Statewide Community Award “acknowledges an organization or company that, through specific projects or efforts, has reached across valued differences to develop among Oklahomans a sense of common purpose and a more profound sense of loyalty to their state. This award has been created to promote a heightened sense of appreciation for the possibilities available when Oklahomans work together as a single statewide community.”

As an organization, Leadership Oklahoma’s mission is to create, inspire and support a dynamic network of community leaders whose commitment to service and excellence will help energize all Oklahomans to help positively shape our future. Its black-tie gala will be held April 21 in Oklahoma City.

“On behalf of all our markets in Oklahoma, I want to say how appreciative we are for this recognition,” said Brad Krieger, regional executive for Arvest Bank for Oklahoma and Kansas. “Our commitment to the communities we serve has never been stronger, and this award reflects the actions and attitudes of our associates from border to border.”

In announcing Arvest as a winner, Leadership Oklahoma has particular praise for the annual 1 Million Meals campaign, as well as our Oklahoma markets’ commitment to Habitat for Humanity, the United Way’s Day of Caring, and the “We Love Oklahoma Teachers” program, among numerous other endeavors.

“Over the past 50 years, Arvest Bank has experienced tremendous growth, and can be found in many Oklahoma communities,” according to Leadership Oklahoma. “Where these Arvest Banks exist, so does a culture of community involvement and support. This support is inclusive, reaching out to individuals, corporations, non-profits, and civic activities.

“As Oklahomans, Arvest is aware of the challenges that this state faces, and chooses to make a difference.”

Links marked with * go to a third-party site not operated or endorsed by Arvest Bank, an FDIC-insured institution.

Congratulations to mortgage lender Krista Reimer, who recently received the Affiliate of the Year award at the Stillwater Board of REALTORS® (SBOR)annual banquet.

Reimer was selected from a pool of candidates that were submitted by nominators from outside their own companies. According to the SBOR, candidates must “exhibit a high level of professionalism and cooperation that is essential between their industry and our REALTOR® members.”

Reimer has worked in the mortgage lending industry for 18 years, including the last four in Stillwater. Her commitment to providing excellent customer service and attention to detail throughout the loan process are the driving forces behind her business.

Her experience with all types of products – and commitment to staying informed on market trends – helps Reimer give each customer the best solution for their financial situation. Additionally, being an active part of the community has allowed Reimer to develop relationships with many real estate professionals. These relationships foster a team atmosphere that results in the best possible outcomes for her clients.

Reimer earned a degree in business education – with a minor in business administration – at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. In her spare time, she most enjoys spending time with family, whether that’s relaxing with her husband in the backyard or entertaining their grandchildren.

Investment products and services are provided by Arvest Investments, Inc., doing business as Arvest Asset Management, member FINRA/SIPC, an SEC registered investment adviser and a subsidiary of Arvest Bank. Trust services are provided by Arvest Bank. Insurance products are made available through Arvest Insurance, Inc., which is registered as an insurance agency. Insurance products are marketed through Arvest Insurance, Inc., but are underwritten by insurance companies.
Securities and Insurance Products: Not Insured by FDIC or any Federal Government Agency, May Lose Value, Not a Deposit of or Guaranteed by a Bank or any Bank Affiliate.